Convertible couch structure



Marh 3oy,1943. y, J, BERGSTRW. l 2,314,864

CONVERTIBLE COUCH STRUCTURE Filed No'v. 1o, 1939 s sheets-snaai 1 Mardi30 1943. K v. J. BERGsTRoM 2,314,864

CONVERTIBLE COUCH STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 10, 1939 3 Sheets-Shea*l 2 ma: Il

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March 30,1943. v J BERG'STRQM' 2,314,864

CONVERTIBLE COUCH STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 10', 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a gig',Z a 5 Patented Mar. 30, 1943 Application November 10, 1939, Serial No.303,781

unirse stares PATENT ortica 6 Claims.

The invention relates primarily to that type of a couch structure whichvis adapted for conversion into aV bed and the general aim is to providea new and improved structure that is characterized by the sturdysimplicity of its construction and by ease and convenience of operation.

Another object is to provide a convertible structure of this naturewhich embodies novel means operably interconnecting and correlating therelative movements of the seat and back members of the couch so that theback member is swung into its horizontal position by a pull on the seatmember and is automatically returned to its upright position after theuser has initiated such movement, and in which the conversion movementsare in a direction forwardly of the rearmost position of the back memberso that the normal position of the structure against a wall need not bedisturbed in eiecting the conversion.

Another object is to provide in a new and im proved structure of thisnature novel supporting means for the seat and back members arranged topermit movement of either member between substantially horizontal andvertical positions.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingdescription and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a convertible structure embodying theinvention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views through the left-hand endof the structure as shown in Fig. l and are taken on planes indicated bythe lines 2 2, 3--3 and 4 4 of Fig. 5 respectively.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views looking toward an end of the structure fromsuch an intermediate position as that indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig.1, and the seat and back members are broken away only to the extentrequired to illustrate respectively the positions assumed by the partsin the horizontal position of the seat and back members, in the verticalposition of the back member, and in the vertical position of the seatmember.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure as shown in Fig. 5,parts being broken away to `illustrate internal construction.

While the invention is susceptible of various modiiications andalternative constructions, I

"have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail thepreferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not therebyintend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intendto cover all modifications and` alternative constructions falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

The exemplary form of structure which has been selected for illustrativepurposes embodies a supporting base I, a seat member I! and a backmember I2 interconnected to permit the seat and back members to bereadily changed from their couch-forming relationship, as shown in Figs.1 and 6, to their bed-forming position shown in Figs. 5 and 8 and topermit'the seat member to be tipped upwardly to a self-maintainedsubstantially vertical position affording access to a beddingcompartment-I in the base (see Fig. '7) In this instance, the parts inthe couch-forming relation simulate a twin bed arrangement. The base isa rectangular'frame comprising front and back walls I3 and I4,respectively, end walls I5 and a bottom wall I6, all defining thebedding compartment. To the end walls, suitable arm members I'I, such asthe pressed metal assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be secured.

In general, the seat and back members are alike in construction and, asshown, comprise rectangular angle iron frames I8 and i9, respectively,which support inner spring systems 20 of substantially conventionalconstruction. The legs of the angle iron frames I3 and I9 are directeddownwardly and inwardly. The springs forming the rows of the systems areconnected to tie rods 22 (see Fig. 8) and are spaced inwardly from theassociated ends of the frames to provide inner clearance spaces 2| forthe connecting and operating linkages. Since similar linkagearrangements are located at opposite ends of the structure, adescription of the mechanism at one end will enable an understanding ofthe complete mechanism.

The seat member l is supported on the base for movement in a horizontalplane from a position directly over the base and between the arm membersIl to a forwardly extended position relative to the base. In thisinstance, the base end walls I5 each have a channel member 23 securedthrough the base of the channel, as by bolts 24, to the inner wall facesto provide parallel upper and lower horizontal rails 25, 26. rIhe upperrail 25 is located approximately on the plane of the base top and has adepending marginal ange 2i (Figs. 3 and 6) which terminates a shortdistance from the front end of the rail. At its forward end, the member23 has a bracket 28 (Fig. 6) secured thereto whichfis providedwith anolset forming, with a projecting end of the rail base, a bifurcation forsupporting a roller 29 on a horizontal axis, the upper portion of theroller circumference being disposed above the plane of the upper rail.Secured in the angle of the end portion of the seat frame I8 is anelongated bar 30 (Fig. 2) arranged to ride on the roller. Near itsforward end the bar has an arcuate recess 3| (Figs. 5 and 6) arranged inthe retracted position of the seat to receive the roller and providemeans for preventing accidental forward or outward movement of the seat.

The back member I2 is supported for movement from its generally uprightposition to a horizontal position in the plane of the seat member as theseat member is shifted to its forward extended position. In thisembodiment, the back is pivotally supported through a linkagearrangement which controls movements of the back, which holds the backin its horizontal bed-forming position, and by which the back and seatmay be semi-automatically returned to form the couch.

The connection between the back and the base in the present instanceembodies brackets 32 (Figs. 3 and '7) mounted on the rear wall I4 of thebase near each side wall thereof for supporting a rock shaft 33extending lengthwise of the base. Each end of the rock shaft has a lever34 rigidly secured thereto for swinging movement between an upwardlyextending position (Fig. 6) and one in which it is substantiallyhorizontal (Fig. 5). The free ends of the levers are pivoted, as at 35,to brackets 35a, on the ends of the back frame adjacent to but spacedfrom the front edge of said frame. Springs 33 disposed, in thisinstance, about the rock shaft and bearing against the bracket 32 andlever, exert their force to swing the levers to their vertical position.The springs are tensioned as the back moves to its horizontal positionand exert a force ample to return the back, as well as the seat which isconnected therewith by means to be described, to their couch-formingrelation. The levers are intermediately offset as at 3l' (Fig. 6), inthe plane on the arm to locate the pivots 33 at one side of the plane ofthe back frame so that the levers will clear the frame and tend toutilize the force of the springs in the initial movement of the back toits upright position.

The rear side of the seat and the front side of upwardly extending links48, 49 are secured by pivots 5U, 5I. The rear link 49 normally extendsupwardly alongside the arm 4I between the seat and back structures andat its upper end is pivoted, as at 52, to a bracket 53 shaped somewhatlike the letter J to permit the lower end of the bracket to extendaround the adjoining portion of the seat frame I8. This arrangementlocates the free end or shorter leg of the J-shaped bracket within theconfines of the seat frame. The bracket 53 has an angular member 54rigid therewith which is secured, as by rivets 55, to the seat frame I8.

The forward link 48 is generally L-shaped and is inverted to permit thefree end of the link to be pivoted, as at 56, to the inner end of thebracket 53. The relationship of the links 48, 49 and bracket 53 to theplate 39 and to the seat structure provides a generally quadrilateralarrangement of pivotal axes whereby the seat may be swung upwardly fromits normal horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 5, to the substantiallyvertical position shown in Fig. '7. During such movement, the links 48and 49 shift forwardly providing clearance between the upper rear cornerof the seat and the adjacent portions of the back. In the substantiallyhorizontal position finally assumed by the bracket 53, the center ofmass of the seat is so disposed that the seat will be maintainedupright. This arrangement permits the seat to be tipped upwardly in anythe back are supported for movement between 1 their vertical andhorizontal positions by traveling carriers, generally designated 3B(Fig. 5) arranged for guided movement along the rails 25, 26. Thus, eachcarrier includes a fiat plate 39 disposed in a transverse vertical planehaving44 the seat and back frames and its upper end is inV` the form ofa rearwardly directed reverse curve,

as shown at 45, to locate the upper end of the arm, as well as thebracket 43, within the back structure and to dispose the axis of thepivot 42 adjacent to the front side and outer corner of the back. Thispivotal point moves on a substantially horizontal line in the shiftingmovement of the back member.

Depending from the front and rear sides of the plate 39 are legs 46, 41respectively to which relative position of the seat and back to provideaccess to the interior of the base and permit convenient use thereof forstorage of bedding and the like.

The arrangement and the location of the pivots 35, 42 are such that whenthe back is in its upright position (see Fig. 6) the pivots arehorizontally spaced to support the back. When the back is in itshorizontal position (see Fig. 5), with the pivots vertically spaced andthe longer arm horizontal, the force of the springs 36 as exertedthrough the levers 34 is insucient to overcome the weight of the back toswing it to its upright position. This relation may be overcome,however, by a comparatively light push inwardly against the front of theseat which acts through the connected linkage to tilt the front edge ofthe back about its supporting pivots, lift the rear edge of the backslightly and permit the force of the springs to complete movement of theback upwardly. Such movement will, of course, slide the seat rearwardly.As the back moves toward or returns from its lowered position, thelinkage arrangement causes the rearmost portion of the back to travelsubstantially along a straight vertical line and, in consequence, thepresent structure need not be moved away from an adjacent wall to enableconversion.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that a vnevvand improvedconvertible structure has been provided which is simple and convenientto manipulate. The user need only grasp the front edge ofy the seatthrough a central access aperture I3a in the basefront wall I3 and pullthe f seat forwardly. During this forward movement,

the back swings downwardly and forwardly on its pivots to a horizontalposition in which the rear portion of the back frame rests on cushionedstop pins 5l on the base and the linkage is conditionedto prevent areturn movement of the seat and back by the force of the tensionedsprings 36. A push. on the front edge of the extended seat releases theholding relation of the linkage and permits the parts to return to theircouch-forming position. The central portion of the base is available forthe storage of bedding or the like and is accessible by merely liftingthe front edge of the seat.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a couch structure, the combination of a base; movable seat andback members normally occupying respectively horizontal andsubstantially vertical positions relative to said base; and meanssupporting said members for concurrent movement of said back member fromits normal position to a substantially horizontal position in the planeof said seat member and of said seat member from its normal position toan advanced position relative to said base; said means including acarrier horizontally slidable on said base, an arm rigid with saidcarrier and extending for pivotal attachment with said back member at apoint substantially below its top surface and slightly within its frontedge adjacent said seat vmember, and a quadrilateral linkageinterconnecting said carrier and said seat member, said linkage beingshiftable forwardly to carry said seat member clear of said back memberduring movement of said seat member upwardly to expose the interior ofsaid base.

2. In a couch construction, the combination of a base, movable seat andback members normally occupying respectively horizontal andsubstantially vertical positions relative to said base, horizontallymovable carrier means supported on said base, means pivotally connectingsaid back member with saidv carrier means and with said base forcontrolling movement of said back member between its normal position anda horizontal position in the plane of said seat member, and meansconnecting said seat member with said carrier means for upward swingingmovement to expose the interior of said base, the last mentioned meansincluding Va pair of links pivotally connected with said carrier meansand with said seat member and shiftable forwardly concurrently with theupward swinging movement of said seat member to carry it clear of saidback member.

3. In a couch construction, the combination of a base, upholstered seatand back members normally occupying respectively horizontal and uprightpositions, means supporting said seat member for movement on ahorizontal plane forwardly of said base, and means movable with saidseat member for supporting said back member for concurrent swingingmovement into the horizontal plane of and adjacent said seat member, theback member supporting means including a pivot about which said backmember swings located substantially below the top surface of saidupholstered back member and slightly within the side of said back memberadjacent said seat member.

4. In a couch structure, the combination of a base, upholstered seat andback members, and means on said base supporting said members forconcurrent movement relative to said base from a substantiallyhorizontal position with their top surfaces substantially in the sameplane to a folded position in which said back member is substantiallyupright, said means including a carrier mounted on said base forhorizontal movement and connected with both of said members, saidcarrier interconnecting said members having an arm pivotally connectedwith said back member substantially below the top surface thereof andslightly inwardly of its forward edge adjacent said seat member, wherebyupon upward swinging movement of said back member its top surfaceadjacent said seat member will be carried below the top surface of saidseat member.

5. In a couch construction, the combination of a base, seat and backmembers normallt occupying respectively horizontal and substantiallyvertical positions relative to said base, horizontally movable carriermeans supported by said base, means pivotally connecting said backmember with said carrier means and with said base for controllingmovement of said back member between its normal position and ahorizontal position, and means connecting said seat member withsaid'carrier for movement of said seat member to expose the interior ofsaid base, the last mentioned connecting means including a quadrilaterallinkage shiftable to carry the seat member clear of said back memberduring the movement of said seat member.

6. In a couch structure the combination of a base, movable seat and backmembers mounted on said base and normally occupying respectivelyhorizontal and upright positions, supporting means for said back memberhaving movement relative to said base for bodily shifting said backymember from its upright position to a horizontal position, andsupporting means for said seat member having movement relative to saidbase for bodily shifting said seat member forwardly of said base on ahorizontal plane, the supporting means for said back member and for saidseat member including a common part connecting said members for conjointmovement, said supporting means for the seat member including linkagemeans supporting said seat member for swinging movement to asubstantially vertical position independently of said back member.

VICTOR JOHN BERGSTROM.

